Was there a Conflict Between Paul and James?
By
James Scott Trimm
Paul writes:
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Yeshua the Messiah unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
(Romans 3:20-22)
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Yeshua the Messiah, even we have believed in Yeshua the Messiah, that we might be justified by the faith of Messiah, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
(Galatians 2:16)
However, Ya’akov HaTzadik (James the Just) writes:
You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
(Ya’akov (James) 2:24)
From this apparent contradiction comes the misunderstanding that there was some disagreement between Paul and Ya’akov concerning justification by faith and works.
Part of the problem has to do with the misunderstanding of Paul concerning terms like “under the law” and “works of the law“. However another key issue here is the meaning of the words “righteous” or “just” (the same word in Hebrew and Aramaic).
The underlying Hebrew word for “righteousness” is צדקה Tz’dakah which can refer to an act of righteousness as in Isaiah 32:17 מעשה הצדקה “work of righteousness” but can also be used as a synonym for “salvation” thus it is used in synonymous parallelism with ישועה in Psalm 71:15:
My mouth shall show forth your righteousness
and your salvation all the day;
for I know not the numbers thereof.
(Psalm 71:15)
These are two different meanings that this Hebrew word can have. So there is no contradiction between what Paul is saying and what Ya’akov is saying. Paul is using the term as a synonym for salvation, while Ya’akov is using the word to refer to a “work of righteousness”.
This distinction in meaning can be seen in the use in Luke 7:29:
And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being immersed with the immersion of Yochanan.
(Luke 7:29)
Certainly these people were not saving Elohim, but were instead performing a work of righteousness.
When we understand the writing of Paul and Ya’akov from the original Hebrew and Aramaic, we see that there is no contradiction in what they are each saying about faith and works. Paul is saying that we are saved by faith not works, and Ya’akov is saying that we display our justification by works of righteousness.
My wife has surgery on Monday (4/17/24)! We must raise $1,155 for that, plus bills are hitting our account today! Donations have been down and we need your help today!
My wife was originally to have surgery on Wednesday the second. I am sorry to say that surgery has had to be postponed until Feb. 9th. We found out there would be a co-pay for the surgery, of which we were not previously aware. The fact is that the rent was due on the first (and must clear our account Monday) so we had no choice but to postpone the surgery, whether we liked it or not.
The time is short, and there is much work to be done. This is no time to pull back from the great work in front of us!
As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall. As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.
If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.
If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.
Now is time to step up to the plate!
